Shepley Oval

Home teams:

• Dandenong Stingrays (TAC Cup)
• Dandenong Cricket Club (Victorian Premier League)

Named after former Dandenong Cricket Association secretary and president Harry Shepley, Shepley Oval is a football and cricket field located in Dandenong in south-eastern Melbourne. It presently serves as the home ground of the Dandenong Cricket Club in the Victorian Premier Cricket (VPC) competition, and of the Dandenong Stingrays in the NAB Leauge football competition.

Located at the eastern end of Dandenong Park, immediately north of the Dandenong Creek, the parkland was used for sports in the late 19th century, but throughout the early half of the 20th century until the 1960s, the premier venue for sports in Dandenong was the Dandenong Showgrounds (which at that time was located in Clow Street, the site presently occupied by the Dandenong Municipal Offices). Shepley Oval was developed to a top standard oval in the late 1950s, with a grandstand being opened in 1959, and it has been the region’s premier sports venue since the 1960s.

The venue’s most historically notable football tenant was the Dandenong Football Club. Dandenong, which was then playing in the Victorian Football Association (now the Victorian Football League), moved its home ground from the Showgrounds to Shepley Oval in 1962, and played its games there until it folded at the end of the 1994 season. In 1995, the Southern Stingrays in Victoria’s premier under-18s football competition, the NAB League, moved its home ground from Kavanagh Reserve, Mordialloc to Shepley Oval; the club has been since known as the Dandenong Stingrays, remains based at the ground in 2014 and is now the main football tenant of the oval. Another notable football tenant of the ground was the Victorian Football League’s Springvale Football Club, which played many of its games at the ground between 2000 and 2005, after it had left the Newcomen Rd Oval and before it moved to Casey Fields.

Casual Hire of Reserves, Sports Grounds and Parks

Council reserves, parks and sporting grounds are available for casual hire for a range of functions and events.

To hire a ground, you need to fill out an application for the casual use of a reserves/sports ground form (PDF – 46KB). Your application will then need to be assessed, so please apply well in advance.

No matter how big or small your event is, please ensure you submit an application form. That way we can ensure the grounds and toilets are clean and maintained and we can also advise you if there is other events on that may disturb yours.

View casual hire fees and charges (PDF – 103KB)

Please note that the hire of the park, reserve or sports ground does not include the reservation of buildings, BBQs or shelters. BBQs and shelters are available on the day on a first come, first served basis.

For information on hiring buildings, visit the venues for hire web page.

If you have any questions or would like to know about the availability and costs, contact Council on 8571 1702.

Conditions of hire for council parks, reserves and sporting grounds

The following conditions must be met when hiring a council reserve:

• Council has the authority to withdraw the use of the ground at short notice if it is unusable or unplayable due to inclement weather conditions and/or safety reasons
• The hiring organisation is responsible for cleaning the reserve or sporting ground and if used the pavilion. Rubbish is to be removed from the reserve at the cost to the hiring organisation
• Council will remove any rubbish left behind and an account for this work will be sent to the hiring organisation
• The hiring organisation must clean and reinstate the area if rides are being used at the facility (i.e. horse rides)
• You are responsible for any damage to council property. The hiring organisation will pay reinstatement costs of reserve to its former state
• Facilities in the park are for public use and must be shared. For example, barbecues, shelters, and synthetic/concrete cricket pitches etc.
• Turf wickets are not available for use unless formal approval for specific use is provided to Council
• Sporting clubs with seasonal usage allocation have priority usage of sporting grounds in accordance with their allocated time
• Tents, tarpaulins, rides or other structures are not to be erected on the reserve due to possible damage to the ground surface, water reticulation and other underground services, except with prior approval
• Vehicles are not permitted on the reserve except with prior permission
• No nuisance or annoyance shall be caused to persons on neighbouring properties by any activities associated with your function
• Details of any food sales are to be approved by the council’s Health Department (see temporary and mobile food operators)

Sporting Clubs and Grounds

The City of Greater Dandenong has an extensive range of sporting clubs and grounds for the community. Whether your interest is social, fitness, health or just something to do, there is sure to be a sporting club for you.

Sports Clubs

The City of Greater Dandenong Caters for over 100 seasonal sporting organisations across our 30 sporting reserves. These clubs participate in arrange of sport including Athletics, Australian Rules Football, Baseball, Cricket, Petanque, Rugby League, Soccer, Softball and Touch Rugby.

Sports Ground Allocations

Every club registered within the City of Greater Dandenong must submit a selection of documents to Council each year in order to receive/continue their allocation.

This can include:

• Annual General Meeting (AGM) Report and Minutes
• Club Financial Statement
• Club Business Plan
• Certificate of Incorporation – COI (please note that the COI number is sufficient)
• Public Liability Insurance ($20 million)
• Liquor License Certificate – if applicable (please note the number is sufficient)
• Food Registration Certificate – if applicable (please note the number is sufficient)
• Good Sports Level (if applicable)
• A list of members with a Working with Children Check (only applicable for clubs with junior participants)
• A list of members with a First Aid qualification.

A club which fails to submit some or all of this documentation will not continue to receive an allocation, or have their allocation cancelled.

Read more about casual hire of reserves, sports grounds and parks

Hire of Sport Pavilions for the Public

All Sports Pavilions within the City of Greater Dandenong are available for public hire (pending availability).

If you wish to enquire regarding hiring a sporting pavilion for a private event, please contact the Sport and Recreation Team on (03) 8571 1000 or at recreation@cgd.vic.gov.au